Mechanically operated cue



Nov. 10, 1953 F. E. ELERSICH 2,658,756

MECHANICALLY OPERATED CUE Filed April 14. 1950 F ran/r E. Elersich INVENTOR.

BY 2mm Patented Nov. 10, 953

TIHALUNITED STATES PATENT oFmcs Frank E. Elersich, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application April 14, 1950, Serial No. 156,021

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game cues for billiards, pool and the like and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a one including a spring urged striking member wherein the spring acting upon the member is also utilized for urging a locking dog against the member to retain the member in a retracted position until the dog is manually depressed.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cue including a spring urged striking member that may be retracted a predetermined amount depending upon the force desired or required by 'the user for effectively projecting a game ball.

v A further object of the present invention is to provide a one of the aforementioned character embodying a spring for urging a striking member toward a projectile together with a handle slidably supporting the member and having slots .or grooves for guiding the spring as it is retracted part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like I parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3--3 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral represents a handle of any suitable material having a longitudinal, preferably axial, bore I2 that slidably receives a striking member or rod i4. The striking member I4 includes forward and rear end portions l6 and I8, and the rear end portion I8 is provided 3 CIaims. (Cl. 273-69) with a transverse aperture 20 in which there is frictionally fitted a combined stop and abutment pin 22 for a purpose which will later be more fully described.

The handle or hand grip I0 is also provided with a transverse opening or recess 24, adjacent its forward end, in which there is positioned a latch or dog 26 having an inner rounded bearing portion 28 and a forward edge 32.

A pivot pin 30 extends through the dog 26 and into or through the Walls of the recess 24. The pin 30 is disposed transversely of the striking member l4 and permits pivotal movement of the dog 26 toward and away from the striking member 4.

An endless elastic band or spring 34 is trained about the forward edge 32 of the dog 26 and about the rear end portion l8 of the striking member 14. The spring rests against the outer ends of the pin 22 and is seated in a recess 36 in the forward edge 32 of the dog 26. Obviously, the spring 34 may be secured to the dog 26 to prevent the spring from becoming separated from the dog, by a staple or the like.

A pair of parallel grooves or channels 38 are formed in the handle l0 and receive the flights of the spring 34 to guide the spring 34 during expansion and contraction thereof.

The spring 34 has a dual function insofar as the same yieldingly urges the striking member forwardly of the handle and also yieldingly urges the bearing portion 28 of the dog 26 against the striking member.

In practical use of the present invention, the striking member i4 is retracted a predetermined amount, tensioning the spring 34 to hold the member I retracted since the dog is forced against the member 14. If additional retraction of the member I4 is desired, the dog 26 is held depressed until the member l4 has been sulficiently retracted.

When the dog 26 is depressed, the member I4 is released and will move forwardly to strike a ball or the like with considerable force.

It is anticipated that a striker be removably secured to the forward end portion I6 of the member [4 to prevent undue wear to the member l4, and that the member I4 be provided with longitudinally spaced recesses to selectively accommodate the bearing portion 28 upon retraction of the striking member [4.

Although an elastic strip or coil spring could replace the spring 34 shown, reducing the number of grooves 38 to one, an endless band is more easily replaced and provides the necessary 3 siliency to permit the device to function quite effectively.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

'Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A cue comprising a handle having a longitudinal bore therein, an elongated striking member slidably received in the bore and having forward and rear end portions and a smooth surfaced cylindrical central portion, a pivotal latch carried by the handle and engaging the member to retain the member in a retracted position, said handle having an upper wall with a transverse opening intersecting said bore, said latch being mounted in said opening for pivotal movement about an axis transverse of said member; a transverse stop pin extending through the rear end portion of said member and having end portions projecting outwardly from diametrically opposite sides of said handle, said pin being of a length greater than the diameter of the bore to engage the handle and limit forward movement of the striking member relative to the handle, and an endless elastic band about the latch and the rear end portion of said member and resting against said pin, said band yieldingly urging said member forwardly of the handle and also urging said latch against the central portion of said member to hold the member retracted.

2;'A cue. comprising an elongated handle having an axial. bore, said handle also having an upper wall with a transverse slot therein interr 4 secting said bore adjacent one end of the bore, a striking rod slidably received in said bore, said rod being circular in cross-section and being of uniform diameter throughout its length, a locking dog pivotally mounted in the slot and having a concave end portion engaging the upper periphery of the rod and an upper end portion projecting upwardly through the slot, a transverse stop pin extending transversely through the rod. and having its ends projecting outwardly from diametrically opposite sides of the rod, and an endless elastic band engaged under the rod and extending over the ends of the pin and engaged with the upper end of said dog to yieldingly urge the rod from the handle and the concave end portion'of the dog against the upper periphery of the rod, said pin being of a length greater than the diameter of the bore whereby the ends of the pin will engage the handle to limit forward movement of the rod relative to the handle. r

'3. The combination of claim 1 whereinthe upper Wall of said handle is provided with a pair of parallel slots therein which extend longitudinally of the handle, said elastic band, having spaced longitudinal flight portions'which are received in said slots. 7

FRANK E, ELERSICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 

